Case Digest (G.R. No. 84612)
Facts:
The United States v. S. Miyamoto, G.R. No. 12536. August 18, 1917, the Supreme Court En Banc, Malcolm, J., writing for the Court.
The plaintiff-appellee was The United States (prosecution); the defendant-appellant was S. Miyamoto, a Japanese resident of Zamboanga, accused in the Court of First Instance of illegally importing eighty-two cans of opium into the Philippine Islands.
At trial before Judge George N. Hurd, the Court of First Instance found Miyamoto guilty as charged and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, a fine of P4,000, and costs, the sentence reflecting the value of the opium (between P5,000 and P7,000) and Miyamoto's alleged role as principal instigator. The bulk of the physical contraband had been exhibited at an earlier trial of co-accused; testimony at Miyamoto's trial included that of Adzuma and Morita (Japanese) and three Moros (Balhani, Banzani, Indasan) who had transported the opium.
Following conviction, appellant appealed to this Court, making three assignments of error attacking the sufficiency of the evidence. Counsel for appellant also moved in this Court for a reopening and rehearing (a motion for new trial) based on newly discovered evidence consisting of a letter and an affidavit by Adzuma, the principal prosecution witness, then serving a sentence at San Ramon Penal Colony and now recanting his trial testimony. Translations of Adzuma's Japanese letter and sworn affidavit were supplied; they assert that Adzuma perjured himself at trial, that he had been induced (or coerced) by Captain Elarth and prosecuting officers to give false testimony, and that Miyamoto had no connection with the importation.
The Supreme Court considered the trial record, the trial court's detailed findings (which recited the voyage from Sandakan, the capsizing and partial recovery of tins of opium, the engagement of Moros and the presence and actions of Miyamoto in Sandakan and in Zamboanga), and the newly produced recantation. The Court resolved the motion fo...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Should the trial be reopened and a new trial granted on the basis of Adzuma's newly discovered letter and affidavit (a recantation)?
- Was the evidence presented at trial sufficient to sustain the conviction of S. Miyamoto beyond re...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)